This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're joined by zoologist and science communicator Christian Flores (better known as @crikeyitschristian) for a deep dive into one of the greatest conservation success stories in modern history: the California Condor.

Once soaring alongside mammoths, saber-toothed cats, giant ground sloths, and other Ice Age megafauna, California Condors have survived for tens of thousands of years—only to come perilously close to extinction in the 1980s. In this episode, we explore how one of North America's most iconic birds was saved through one of the most ambitious wildlife recovery programs ever attempted.

Field Museum ornithologists and Curators of Birds John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ and Amanda Pole alongside Christian to discuss California Condor biology, evolution, scavenger ecology, conservation science, captive breeding, reintroduction programs, lead poisoning, and why these magnificent birds remain one of the greatest symbols of wildlife recovery.

We also dive into the Condor's incredible evolutionary history, what North America looked like when they shared the landscape with mammoths and saber-toothed cats, and how scientists and conservationists are working to ensure their future.

Whether you're a birder, wildlife enthusiast, conservation supporter, or simply fascinated by incredible animal comeback stories, this episode is packed with bird science, natural history, evolution, and inspiring conservation success.

If you love birding, birdwatching, endangered species, wildlife conservation, evolution, ornithology, paleontology, rewilding, and fascinating bird facts, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

Follow our guest Christian Flores for more wildlife content and science communication:
Instagram: @crikeyitschristian

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We're officially back with a brand-new episode of Birds of a Feather Talk Together!

After a short break, the full crew returns to catch up on birding adventures, international travel, spring migration, and some exciting personal updates. Field Museum ornithologists and curators of birds John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ and Amanda Pole for a wide-ranging conversation that takes us from Australia and New Zealand all the way back to Chicago.

John shares stories from his recent travels across three countries, including incredible birding experiences in Australia and New Zealand. We discuss some of the remarkable birds he encountered, what makes birding in those regions so unique, and the unforgettable wildlife, habitats, and birding adventures he experienced along the way.

We also get an inspiring update from Shannon on her cochlear implant journey. Shannon shares some of the latest progress in her hearing restoration, how cochlear implant technology continues to change her daily life, and what it's been like rediscovering sounds as both a scientist and lifelong birder. For anyone interested in hearing loss, audiology, cochlear implants, accessibility, or birding with hearing challenges, this is a fascinating and personal conversation.

Back home, RJ and Amanda share highlights from spring migration in Chicago, including some of the exciting birds they encountered during one of the best times of year for birdwatching in North America.

We also answer a listener mailbag question about Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Golden-crowned Kinglets, leading to a discussion about bird identification, sexual dimorphism, crown patches, and why males and females can sometimes look so different. If you've ever wondered how to tell these tiny songbirds apart or why some birds display dramatic differences between the sexes, you'll enjoy this fascinating bird science conversation.

If you love birding, birdwatching, Australia birds, New Zealand birds, kinglets, bird migration, wildlife travel, ornithology, cochlear implants, hearing restoration, bird behavior, and fascinating bird stories from around the world, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

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This week on Birds of a Feather Talk Together, we're revisiting one of the most extraordinary birds we've ever covered—and the official winner of our 2026 Bird of the Year tournament: the Club-winged Manakin.

While we're getting ready to return with brand-new episodes next week, we couldn't resist taking another look at the bird that captured the hearts of our listeners and earned the title of 2026 Bird of the Year. Native to the cloud forests of South America, the Club-winged Manakin is famous for producing one of the strangest sounds in the bird world—not with its voice, but with its wings.

Through an incredible evolutionary adaptation, male Club-winged Manakins create a high-pitched mechanical sound during courtship displays by rubbing specialized wing feathers together at astonishing speeds. The result sounds more like an insect, a machine, or a science-fiction sound effect than a bird, making it one of the most unique bird behaviors ever discovered.

In this episode, Field Museum ornithologists and curators of birds John Bates and Shannon Hackett join RJ and Amanda Pole to discuss Club-winged Manakin behavior, bird evolution, courtship displays, bird sounds, animal communication, and the remarkable adaptations that helped this species earn the title of Bird of the Year.

The journey to the championship was a fun one. Students from LSU joined in voting throughout our Bird of the Year tournament, with results revealed across multiple episodes. In the end, the Club-winged Manakin emerged as the champion, defeating a field of incredible birds to claim the crown.

If you love birding, birdwatching, weird birds, bird behavior, bird evolution, tropical birds, ornithology, wildlife science, and fascinating bird facts, this is an episode you won't want to miss!

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